bookrandom Chapter 105 is quite big after all.
Chapter 105 is quite big after all.
Wang Ergou blushed slightly at the retort, but remembering the huge amount of stuff he still had to sell, he immediately perked up: "Then let's hurry up and go! You know the ropes, I'll listen to you."
The three of them soon arrived at the back door of the state-run restaurant.
Just as Li Xiangyang was about to ask someone to inform him, Director Zhang came out to greet him.
"Oh, who is it?" Director Zhang said with a smile, "Little Li is here!"
Li Xiangyang smiled and nodded: "Director Zhang, I'm sorry to trouble you again."
“You’re being too polite,” Director Zhang waved his hand, his gaze falling on the donkey cart, his eyes suddenly lighting up. “Good heavens, this is quite a generous gesture!”
He beckoned the men into the storeroom, closed the door, and then carefully examined the contents of the donkey cart.
"Wow!" Director Zhang exclaimed, clicking his tongue in admiration as he looked at the perfectly preserved bear gallbladder. "Such a large one, and it's so well preserved."
He then examined the bear paws and other internal organs, nodding repeatedly: "The bear paws are large and of good quality; the bear heart and liver are also intact."
Then, Director Zhang examined the tiger bones and penis, his eyes shining even brighter: "The tiger bones are intact, the penis is fresh, and the gall bladder is also there..."
Wang Ergou, watching intently, swallowed hard. Finally, he couldn't help but ask, "Director Zhang, how much do you think these are worth?"
Director Zhang glanced at him, then turned to Li Xiangyang and said, "Here's the deal: bear gallbladders 300, bear paws 240, the rest 80. Tiger bones, tiger penis, and tiger gallbladder together 400, the rest 70. That's a total of 1050. Is that alright?"
"Sure!" Li Xiangyang agreed without even thinking.
This price was quite reasonable for that time of year; the average worker's monthly salary was only thirty or forty yuan.
When Wang Ergou heard the number, his eyes widened.
He couldn't save that much money even if he worked in the village for a year.
Director Zhang quickly retrieved the money and carefully counted it out for Li Xiangyang: "It's one thousand and fifty in total, please count it."
Li Xiangyang took the money and put it in his pocket: "With Director Zhang's permission, there's no need to count it."
As the three of them left through the back door, Wang Ergou was grinning from ear to ear.
"Xiangyang, these two trips combined..."
Wang Ergou rubbed his hands together, his eyes shining as he looked at Li Xiangyang.
"Two thousand three hundred and fifty yuan." Li Xiangyang said the number before he could finish speaking.
"Yes, yes, yes!" Wang Ergou nodded repeatedly, his face beaming with joy. "The three of us will each receive 783.33 yuan."
Li Xiangyang couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Ergou, you're calculating too meticulously. Here's what we'll do: since we don't have change, you and Daqiang each take 790 yuan, and I'll keep the rest."
"Really?" Wang Ergou's eyes widened. "This means we'll get several extra dollars!"
Li Daqiang, listening from the side, shook his head. He finally understood that his cousin was deliberately giving Wang Ergou a few extra dollars to make him happy.
Wang Ergou is a man who laughs when given too much and makes a fuss when given too little.
“Of course.” Li Xiangyang took out some money. “Here you go, Er Gou, this is your seven hundred and ninety yuan. Brother Da Qiang, this is yours.”
Wang Ergou took the money and counted it carefully, his smile never fading.
Li Daqiang took the money, but was a little embarrassed: "Xiangyang, this..."
“Brother Daqiang,” Li Xiangyang interrupted him, “take it. It’s what you deserve.”
Li Daqiang held the thick wad of money, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
I remember being jealous of my cousin yesterday, but today I've made so much money because of his skills.
This money came easily, but if it weren't for Li Xiangyang, he and Wang Ergou would probably have frozen to death in the mountains long ago.
"Xiangyang," Li Daqiang gritted his teeth, "I'll treat you to drinks when we get back."
"Sure!" Li Xiangyang agreed with a smile, "But I have some things to take care of in a few days."
Wang Ergou stuffed the money into his pocket, then seemed to remember something and asked, "Oh right, Xiangyang, didn't we have plans tonight...?"
Li Xiangyang glared at him, and Wang Ergou immediately fell silent.
Although Li Daqiang didn't understand what was going on, he wisely refrained from asking.
As the three walked back, they passed the supply and marketing cooperative, and Li Daqiang's pace noticeably slowed down.
Knowing he wanted to see Xiaofang, Li Xiangyang smiled and said, "Brother Daqiang, why don't you go in and take a look first?"
Li Daqiang blushed and waved his hand, "No, no, let's do it another day."
"Come on, you!" Wang Ergou egged him on from the side. "Everyone knows what you're thinking. You're rich, why don't you show off?"
Li Daqiang's face turned even redder, and he stammered, unable to speak.
Li Xiangyang couldn't stand it anymore and kicked Wang Ergou: "Shut up. Brother Daqiang, you go ahead, Ergou and I will wait for you outside."
Li Daqiang hesitated for a moment, then nodded, straightened his clothes, and walked into the supply and marketing cooperative.
Wang Ergou wanted to say something, but Li Xiangyang glared at him and shut him up.
After a while, Li Daqiang finally came out of the supply and marketing cooperative, carrying a paper package in his hand.
Although he tried his best to hide it, he couldn't conceal the smile on his face.
"What good stuff did you buy?" Wang Ergou asked, leaning closer.
"No, it's nothing," Li Daqiang hid the paper package behind his back. "It's just some candy."
"Come on," Wang Ergou chuckled, "Xiao Fang must have made it for you."
Li Daqiang lowered his head in embarrassment and did not refute.
Seeing this, Li Xiangyang quickly changed the subject: "It's getting late, let's go back quickly."
The three hurried towards the village. Along the way, Wang Ergou kept teasing Li Daqiang, but Li Daqiang didn't get angry; he just smiled foolishly.
Li Xiangyang saw this and was happy for his cousin.
Although this trip into the mountains nearly cost him his life, it might be a turning point for Li Daqiang.
By the time we got back to the village, it was almost dark.
Li Daqiang went home. Wang Ergou followed Li Xiangyang for a while, then stopped at the intersection and asked in a low voice, "Will you wait for me at the village entrance at midnight tonight?"
Li Xiangyang nodded: "Remember to take anything you're secretly keeping with you."
"Don't worry," Wang Ergou chuckled, "I'll go back and prepare right away. It's not that I'm greedy, but I promised three hundred and fifty, don't forget."
"Alright, it's fine, go back and get some sleep."
After parting ways with Wang Ergou, Li Xiangyang dragged his exhausted body straight home.
Upon seeing him return, Li's mother immediately asked, "How did sales go?"
"That's good," Li Xiangyang said with a smile, taking out the more than seven hundred yuan he had received from his pocket and handing over four hundred: "Mom, this is our family's share, but I can only give you four hundred. I have a use for the rest."
Li's mother took the money, her hands trembling slightly: "So much?"
“Yes,” Li Xiangyang said with a smile, “Mom, keep this money. When the new house is finished in the spring, we’ll rebuild this place too.”
"Okay, okay..." Li's mother nodded with tears in her eyes.
Just then, Li Xiaohua ran out of the house: "Brother, you're back!"
"Yes, you're back." Li Xiangyang patted his sister's head and took off his coat, hanging it on the wooden nails behind the door.
Seeing that he looked a little tired, Li's mother quickly turned and went into the kitchen: "I heated up some food for you. Eat it while it's hot, and then go to bed early."
"I should go to bed early," Li Xiangyang stretched and moved his slightly sore shoulders. "Mom, I might have to go out again tonight."
Where are you going?
Li's mother paused for a moment while holding the rice bowl, and her brows furrowed slightly.
Seeing his mother's worry, Li Xiangyang took the bowl and said with a smile, "I just met with someone to discuss some things."
"It's the middle of the night, you're not going into the mountains again..., are you...?"
"No," Li Xiangyang quickly interrupted his mother, "It's right at the village entrance, so don't worry about it. But don't leave the door open for me tonight."
Li's mother looked at her son with a mixture of belief and doubt.
Something doesn't sound quite right about that.
Moreover, he had more than 300 yuan on him, went out late at night, and didn't come back. What was he planning to do?
Li's mother wanted to ask for clarification, but considering that her son was already grown up, she sighed and ultimately didn't ask.
"Mom, don't worry." Li Xiangyang picked up a piece of food and gave a reassuring smile. "You and Xiaohua should go to bed early. I'll be back as soon as I've finished my business."
"Then go and come back early. Don't get mixed up with those shady people," Li's mother instructed.
"Understood," Li Xiangyang nodded. "I understand."
Li Xiaohua listened from the side. Although she was a little worried about her brother, she knew it was an adult matter, so she didn't ask too many questions. She just silently added another bowl of rice for her brother.
“Little Flower has grown up,” Li Xiangyang said with a smile, patting his sister’s head. “She knows how to care for her brother now.”
Li Xiaohua lowered her head, a blush rising on her face: "Brother, come back soon."